Unite backs rally against racism

Unite backs rally against racism

The trade union movement is backing the Stand Up to Racism rally in Trafalgar Square on Saturday 22 March, which marks UN Anti-Racism Day.

The event will link up with some of the dozens of anti-racist demonstrations taking place across Europe in the build-up to Euro-elections in May.

“We need to see the widest possible unity against racist parties to prevent them making advances in the polls,” said Mike Hedges,chair of L&E’s political committee. “Plenty of hard work has been done in Britain to push openly racist groups to the margins.

“But we have seen how UKIP’s toxic anti-immigration talk led to the sickening sight of the Home Office’s ‘go-home’ vans over the summer. In hard times, racists and reactionaries always try to pin the blame for falling living standards on visible minority groups.

“Once again, people of goodwill need to demonstrate their opposition to racism and all forms of prejudice,” said Mike Hedges. “I hope Unite members will join the demonstration on 22 March and show their support for diversity and their solidarity with anti-fascists across Europe.”

The demonstration will assemble at the Nelson Mandela statue in Parliament Square and head for Trafalgar Square at 11:00. It is organised by Unite Against Fascism and supported by the TUC, and a raft of unions including Unite,Unison and GMB.